scholarly journals RELATIVE QUALITY OF THE MAJOR FOREST ASSOCIATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN B.C. INTERIOR FOR GROWTH OF LODGEPOLE PINE, ENGELMANN SPRUCE, DOUGLAS-FIR AND ALPINE FIR

1966 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Stanek

Height growth of lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir and alpine fir was investigated in the Douglas-fir and Engelmann Spruce-Alpine Fir Zones of the Interior of British Columbia. In the same forest association each species has a characteristic site index at the age of 100 years (SI/100). Regression equations were calculated for predicting SI/100 of several species in different associations. Regression equations were also developed for estimating SI/100 of Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir and alpine fir from known SI/100 of lodgepole pine. The latter species was selected because of its common occurrence in the two zones. In addition regression equation was calculated for predicting SI/100 of lodgepole pine from known SI/100 of Engelmann spruce. All regression equations apply to naturally established stands in the study area.

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Y. H. Chen ◽  
Karel Klinka

Abstract To estimate potential productivity of the high-elevation Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir (ESSF) zone of British Columbia forests, the height growth models developed from low-elevation forests are currently used to estimate site indices of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Whether these models are adequate to describe height growth of high-elevation forests is of concern. We sampled a total of 319 naturally established, even-aged, and undamaged stands with breast height age ≥50 yr (165 for subalpine fir, 87 for Engelmann spruce, and 67 for lodgepole pine) ranging widely in climate and available soil moisture and nutrients. In each sampled stand, three dominant trees were destructively sampled for stem analysis. Height growth models developed from fitting data to a conditioned logistic function explained > 97% variation in height for all three study species. Examined by residual analysis, no models showed lack of fit. These models provided more accurate estimates of site index than the currently used models developed from low-elevation stands or different species. It is recommended that the models developed in this study be applied to estimate site index of the three species in the ESSF zone in British Columbia. West. J. Appl. For. 15(2):62-69.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1471-1482
Author(s):  
Woongsoon Jang ◽  
Bianca N.I. Eskelson ◽  
Louise de Montigny ◽  
Catherine A. Bealle Statland ◽  
Derek F. Sattler ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to quantify growth responses of three major commercial conifer species (lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson), interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco), and spruce (white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and hybrid spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelm. × Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière))) to various fertilizer blends in interior British Columbia, Canada. Over 25 years, growth-response data were repeatedly collected across 46 installations. The fertilizer blends were classified into three groups: nitrogen only; nitrogen and sulfur combined; and nitrogen, sulfur, and boron combined. The growth responses for stand volume, basal area, and top height were calculated through absolute and relative growth rate ratios relative to a controlled group. Fertilizer blend, inverse years since fertilization, site index, stand density at fertilization, and their interactions with the fertilizer blend were used as explanatory variables. The magnitude and significance of volume and basal area growth responses to fertilization differed by species, fertilizer-blend groups, and stand-condition variables (i.e., site index and stand density). In contrast, the response in top height growth did not differ among fertilization blends, with the exception of the nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer subgroup for lodgepole pine. The models developed in this study will be incorporated into the current growth and yield fertilization module (i.e., Table Interpolation Program for Stand Yields (TIPSY)), thereby supporting guidance of fertilization applications in interior forests in British Columbia.


1996 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klinka ◽  
H. Y. H. Chen ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
R. E. Carter

Stem analysis data from even-aged Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) and subalpine fir [Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.] stands on zonal sites in the Engelmann Spruce—Subalpine Fir biogeoclimatic zone of British Columbia were used to examine the relationships of site index and height growth and elevation, latitude, and longitude. Elevation and latitude were found to be strongly negatively correlated with site index of both study species. Spruce site index (bh age 50) was predicted to decrease 2.9 m and fir site index 2.5 m with every 100 m and 1° increase in elevation and latitude, respectively; however, (i) site index of both species appeared to decline faster with increasing latitude than elevation, and (ii) decrease appeared to be faster for spruce than for fir. Comparison of height growth curves for stands on zonal and azonal sites with similar site index from different elevations and latitudes suggested that there are probably inconsequential differences between the shape of curves for either species. These findings imply that (i) subalpine fir is better adapted to subalpine boreal climates than Engelmann spruce and (ii) development of polymorphic site index curves for estimating site index of both species may be appropriate. Key words: elevation, latitude, longitude, site index, height growth, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Engelmann Spruce—Subalpine Fir zone


1972 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Daniel ◽  
Josef Schmidt

The study tests whether the lethal effect of overwintering Engelmann spruce seed in its O-horizon affects Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir seeds and whether the O-horizons of the three associated species have the same lethal effect on seeds. All seed treatments of each species were stratified in petri dishes in the pure O-horizon (unsterilized and autoclaved) of each species. Seed treatments were untreated, 10% slurry of 50% Captan and powdered 75% Captan.All untreated seeds demonstrated the lethal quality of unsterilized Engelmann spruce O-horizon. Its effects on untreated seeds and powder treated seeds were as follows: Engelmann spruce seed 3.5 and 77.3% (germination of untreated and powdered respectively), subalpine fir seed 1.3 and 20.8, Douglas-fir seed 9.5 and 84.8 and lodgepole pine seed 11.9 and 85.7. Subalpine fir O-horizon was lethal to its own seeds but only moderately harmful to seeds of other species. Douglas-fir O-horizon had a significant adverse effect on its own seeds and was only moderately harmful to seeds of other species. Lodgepole pine O-horizon was almost neutral to all seeds. Autoclaving of the O-horizons and powder treatment of seeds produced similar results.


1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Van Sickle ◽  
R.I. Alfaro ◽  
A.J. Thomson

Detailed dissections of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees repeatedly defoliated by the western spruce budworm (Choristoneuraoccidentalis (Freeman)) in two areas of British Columbia indicated that budworm severely affected height growth. Dissected trees lost an average 7.3 internodes in each infestation, of which 4.2 were destroyed or failed to grow during the budworm feeding and recovery periods, and 3.1 were existing internodes lost to dieback. An average of one internode of subnormal size, produced during the recovery period, was also present. Total height was reduced by 32% (11.4 m) and 19% (5.9 m) in areas that sustained four and two infestations respectively. Budworm infestations lead to an underestimation of the site index for Douglas-fir in the affected areas.


1965 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Beaton ◽  
A. Moss ◽  
I. MacRae ◽  
J. W. Konkin ◽  
W. P. T. McGhee ◽  
...  

Concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur in needles of alpine fir, amabilis fir, western red cedar, Douglas fir, western hemlock, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and Sitka spruce trees growing in a number of areas of British Columbia was determined.Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in current needles of three groups of alpine fir seedlings was 1.05-1.85, 0.18-0.26, 0.70-1.08, 0.29-.044, 0.07-0.11, and 0.12-0.16 per cent, respectively. The nutrient content in the same order was 0.99, 0.16, 1.20, 0.30, 0.08, and 0.12 per cent in a single group of amabilis fir samples.In the lone set of western red cedar samples the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S were in the order of 0.73, 0.13, 0.52, 1.16, 0.10 and 0.07 per cent.The percentage of the six nutrients in current Douglas fir needles from seven locations was 0.88-1.37, 0.12-0.22, 0.38-0.70, 0.16-0.44, 0.07-0.18, and 0.14-0.25 for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, respectively.The nutrient content of current needles of western hemlock from three sites was N = 0.86-1.17, P = 0.11-0.19, K = 0.28-0.57, Ca = 0.18-0.27, Mg = 0.08-0.12 and S = 0.10-0.15 per cent.Nitrogen, P, K, Ca, Mg and S concentration in current needles from three lots of lodgepole pine seedlings was 1.18-1.77, 0.15-0.18, 0.45-0.62, 0.16-0.26, 0.11-0.14 and 0.12-0.21 per cent, respectively. The corresponding values in needles from older trees were in the order 0.97-1.12, 0.09-0.12, 0.35-0.39, 0.15-0.16, 0.08-0.12 and 0.09-0.11.Per cent N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in current needles of three groups of Engelmann spruce seedlings was in the order 1.26-1.72, 0.21-0.29, 0.71-0.80, 0.44-0.58, 0.13-0.15 and 0.13-0.19. Concentration of these nutrients in older trees was 0.92-1.08, 0.20, 0.70-0.88, 0.28-0.33, 0.11-0.12 and 0.12-0.14 per cent, respectively.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Nigh ◽  
Matthew G.E. Mitchell

Abstract Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menzeisii) is an important and abundant tree species in coastal British Columbia. Juvenile height estimates are important for management prescriptions and decisions involving regenerating stands. We used 100 plots to investigate the juvenile height growth of coastal Douglas-fir. The growth patterns of the sample trees were observed by felling and splitting them longitudinally and measuring the height of the annual nodes from the point of germination. Sixty-four plots were used to develop a height model as a function of total age and site index. The Chapman-Richards, Gompertz, and modified exponential and power models were fit using nonlinear least squares regression. The models were tested with the remaining 36 plots. The modified exponential and power equation was the best fitting of the three models. None of the models met the regression assumption of independently normally distributed residuals with a mean of zero and a constant variance. The modified exponential and power model was further analyzed using the complete data set by fitting height growth and incorporating a model for serial correlation in the error term to improve the statistical properties of the model. West. J. Appl. For. 18(3):207–212.


1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Thrower ◽  
James W. Goudie

Abstract Height-age and site-index curves were developed from stem analysis of 262 Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) from 68 plots in the Interior Douglas-fir, Interior Cedar-Hemlock, and Sub-boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic zones in the interior of British Columbia. Plots ranged in site index from about 8 to 30 m and in age from about 60 to 350 years; however, the analyses were limited to data up to 100 years of age. A conditioned logistic function was selected for predicting height, and a linear model was selected for predicting site index. The curves are similar to those developed in comparable studies in the Inland Empire, but differ substantially from curves developed in British Columbia from temporary sample plots. This study supports previous observations that the pattern of height growth for a given site index varies among ecologically different areas. West. J. Appl. For. 7(1):20-25.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Nigh

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether the relationship between site index and early height growth of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) is the same on wet and dry sites. If the height growth/site index relationship is the same for different site types, then only one growth intercept model is required to estimate site index. Indicator variables in nonlinear regression were used to incorporate soil moisture availability into a growth intercept model. One set of parameters in a site index/early height growth model was adequate for both wet and dry sites. This result was supported graphically. Therefore, only one growth intercept model is necessary for the sites examined in this study. West. J. Appl. For. 12(1):5-8.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document